DVT and Bedsore Claims

DVT and bedsore claims

Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence Solicitors – No win no fee DVT and Bedsore Claims

“I was recovering from surgery in hospital and developed DVT.”

Caring for patients on bed rest who are confined to bed or are sedentary for long periods, means regular checks must be made to ensure pressure sores (also called bedsores) and blood clots (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) do not develop.

Pressure sores occur when patients are not turned regularly while spending long periods in bed – elderly or infirm patients in care homes, patients in comas, or patients with severe disabilities such as paraplegia or quadriplegia, all need to be monitored for bedsores or DVT.

Surgical patients who need to spend a period of time in bed are also at risk of developing pressure sores and DVT – the risk of blood clots is why surgical patients wear elasticated stockings.

DVT – also called thrombophlebitis – occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein.

DVT becomes dangerous if part of the clot breaks away and travels to the lungs and brain – known as a pulmonary embolism. Blood clots can be treated with clot-busting drugs if caught early – but if they travel to the brain, brain injury or death can occur.

Bedsores are not only painful but can become infected and develop into potentially life threatening conditions such as sepsis (blood poisoning).

Patients must also be encourage to get out of bed and move around if at all possible to prevent DVT and bedsores/pressure sores – failure by nursing staff to help patients minimise the risk of bedsores and DVT can have catastrophic and even fatal consequences to patients.

DVT (thrombophlebitis) complications

• Breathing difficulties
• Brain haemorrhage
• Brain injury
• Post-phlebetic syndrome (chronic pain, heaviness and swelling in leg)
• Swollen limb
• Valve damage in veins (may cause varicose veins, swelling (oedema) and skin discolouration).

Bedsore complications

• Bone and joint infections (may cause osteomyelitis and septic arthritis)
• Cellulitis (infection of the skin and soft tissues – potentially life threatening)
• Marjolin ulcer (pre-cancerous condition in wounds that will not heal)
• Sepsis (may result in organ failure).

Making DVT and Bedsore Claims

Patients who have suffered injury as a result of bedsores and DVT have three years from the date of diagnosis in which to make a no win no fee compensation claim.

Duncan Lewis clinical negligence solicitors can also advise on making claims for catastrophic injuries and fatal injuries as a result of DVT and/or bedsores, which were the result of negligent medical care in hospitals, private clinics, care homes, mental health hospitals, retirement homes, spinal injuries units, neurological units, or on surgical wards.

No win no fee compensation claims relating to children who develop DVT or bedsores as a result of negligent medical care can be made up until the child is 21.

Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence Solicitors – No win no fee DVT and Bedsore Claims

Duncan Lewis clinical negligence solicitors are one of the UK’s leading no win no fee law firms and have a successful track record in advising NHS patients, private patients – and overseas patients treated in UK hospitals and clinics – on medical negligence claims, including DVT and bedsore claims.

Because of the limitation period for making no win no fee DVT and bedsore claims, Duncan Lewis advises those who want to make a claim to get in touch as soon as possible after a problem occurs.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee DVT and Bedsore Claims, call Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence Solicitors on 020 7923 4020.